Improvement in hoof-boots for horses



UNITED STATES PATENT CEEIOE.

JOHN B.` HIGGINS, OE BOSTON, IvIAssAcHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HOOF-BOOTS FORHORSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,930, dated April 2l, 1874; application filed June 5, 1873. n

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOHN B. HIGGINs, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements inHoof-Shoes for Horses 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hoof-boots for horses, consisting in an improved Inode of attaching the boot to the foot of the horse, for which purpose a strap is secured to the inside of the rear part of the boot.

'To the upper end ofthe said strap is connected a small strap or belt provided with a buckle, whereby the latter strap is buckled around'the fetlock-joint of the horses leg, thus securing the hoof-boot to the foot, with perfect freedom for the movements of the foot. This is avery desirable improvement, as the Ordinary hoofboots are very apt to drop off the horses feet when the horse is trotting fast. My invention also relates to an improvement in the construction of the boot, consisting in the employment of a metallic stiffener placed between the inner and Outer coverings, by the employment of which the shape ofthe boot is permanently retained, and the boot prevented from slippin g over the hoof, even if no securitystrap should be used. y

On the drawings, Figure l represents a ground plan. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation. Fig. 3 represents a cross-section on the line A B,shown in Fig. l; and Fig. 4 represents a central longitudinal section on the line C D, also shown on Fig. l.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the diiferent parts of the drawing.

A represents the boot, open in the front, and provided with a Strap and buckle, b, in the usual manner. 'Io the inside of the lower rear part of the boot is attached a soft strap or band, c, that terminates at the upper end as a boot in this manner to the fetlock-joint by means of the strap e and band c, great ease and freedom are given to the movements of a horses foot, while at the same time it prevents y the boot from getting detached from the foot of u the horse. A metallic stiffener, f, is inclosed between the inner and outer coverings of the boot, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by the use of which the shape of the boot is permanently retained, and the durability thereof increased. 'Ihe said metallic stilfener is shaped to the proper form in a suitable mold, and is afterward covered with leather or other suitable material.

The great objection to ordinary hoof-boots made of leather only has been that the shape thereof is soon altered by constant use, and the boot is, therefore, liable to slip down over the hoof, whereas. a boot made with a metallic stiffener will retain its proper shape permanently, and consequent-ly remain firmer on the hoof than the ordinary ones now used.

By the use of the soft band c and strap e the boot is entirely prevented from falling oft' the hoof, which is a very important feature, as the displacement of a hoof-boot during a race is likely to prevent the otherwise successful result thereof.

YHaving thus fully described the nature and construction of my invention, I wish to secure by Letters Patent, and claim- A hoof-boot for horses having a band, c, or its equivalent, attached to the rear part thereof, in combination with the strap e, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of May, 1873.

JOHN B. HIGGINS. Witnesses:

ALBAN ANDBEN, JOHN R. HEARD. 

